The (restricted) Inomata-McKinley spinor representation and the underlying topology

The so called Inomata-McKinley spinors are a particular solution of the non-linear Heisenberg equation. In fact, free linear massive (or mass-less) Dirac fields are well known to be represented as a combination of Inomata-McKinley spinors. More recently, a subclass of Inomata-McKinley spinors were used to describe neutrino physics. In this paper we show that Dirac spinors undergoing this restricted Inomata-McKinley decomposition are necessarily of the first type, according to the Lounesto classification. Moreover, we also show that this type one subclass spinors has not an exotic counterpart. Finally, implications of these results are discussed, regarding the understanding of the spacetime background topology.Comment: 7 pages, to appear in EP

Exotic fermionic fields and minimal length

We investigate the effective Dirac equation, corrected by merging two scenarios that are expected to emerge towards the quantum gravity scale. Namely, the existence of a minimal length, implemented by the generalized uncertainty principle, and exotic spinors, associated with any non-trivial topology equipping the spacetime manifold. We show that the free fermionic dynamical equations, within the context of a minimal length, just allow for trivial solutions, a feature that is not shared by dynamical equations for exotic spinors. In fact, in this coalescing setup, the exoticity is shown to prevent the Dirac operator to be injective, allowing the existence of non-trivial solutions.Comment: 9 page

On the generalized spinor classification: Beyond the Lounesto's Classification

In this paper we advance into a generalized spinor classification, based on the so-called Lounesto's classification. The program developed here is based on an existing freedom on the spinorial dual structures definition, which, in a certain simple physical and mathematical limit, allows us to recover the usual Lounesto's classification. The protocol to be accomplished here gives full consideration in the understanding of the underlying mathematical structure, in order to satisfy the quadratic algebraic relations known as Fierz-Pauli-Kofink identities, and also to provide physical observables. As we will see, such identities impose a given restriction on the number of possible spinorial classes allowed in the classification. We also expose a mathematical device known as \emph{Clifford's algebra deformation}, which ensures real spinorial densities and holds the Fierz-Pauli-Kofink quadratic relations.Comment: 9 pages, 0 figure

Aging with HIV vs. HIV Seroconversion at Older Age: A Diverse Population with Distinct Comorbidity Profiles

People aging with HIV might have different health conditions compared with people who seroconverted at older ages. The study objective was to assess the prevalence of, and risk factors for, individual co-morbidities and multimorbidity (MM) between HIV-positive patients with a longer duration of HIV infection, and patients who seroconverted at an older age. We compared estimates across both groups to a matched community-based cohort sampled from the general population

Pesticides: perception of environmental risk and quantification of glyphosate in atmospheric deposition (Entre Ríos, Argentina)

In Argentina there has been a growing conflict about the use of pesticides and their impacts, mainly with regard to the air compartment and areas with close proximity between agricultural and residential land uses. The present study focuses on this problem in Oro Verde (Entre Ríos, Argentina) using the case study methodology. The aim was to examine the use of agricultural pesticides in urban-rural interface areas as a factor considered problematic by the local population and that affects the air quality in the locality analyzed. The study was conducted in 2016/2018, with a mixed methodological approach. The analysis of perception of the urban population through surveys and interviews with inhabitants who consider themselves affected showed that a large proportion of them identify this problem, emphasizing impacts on the air, and consider it unresolved. Although interviewees mentioned the proximity of the houses to the spraying as an important factor, they also considered that there are other routes of entry of pesticides, for which other solutions are necessary. Determinations of the herbicide glyphosate (GLP) and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in atmospheric deposition (15 sites- three sampling periods) showed their presence in both urban and rural areas, in 60% of the sampling sites. The second sampling period showed higher amounts of GLP+AMPA than the first (11.82 μg/m²/15 days). The differences were not attributable to the proximity to agricultural areas, so other factors determining their emission and environmental dynamics should be discussed. The integration and analysis of the population’s viewpoints of and environmental measurements are considered necessary to address socio-environmental problems and generate knowledge that can contribute to local planning and development.En los últimos años se evidencia en Argentina una creciente conflictividad respecto al uso de plaguicidas y sus impactos, fundamentalmente en lo referido al compartimento aire y a las áreas de interfase urbano-rural con cercanía de usos del suelo agropecuario y residencial. Esta problemática fue analizada en la localidad de Oro Verde (Entre Ríos, Argentina) mediante la metodología de estudio de caso. El objetivo fue analizar el uso de plaguicidas agrícolas en las zonas de interfase urbano-rural como un factor que se constituye en un problema para la población y que afecta la calidad de aire en la localidad. Se llevó a cabo en el periodo 2016/2018 y presenta un enfoque metodológico mixto. El relevamiento y análisis de percepción a la población urbana mediante encuestas y entrevistas evidenció que una gran proporción identifica esta problemática, enfatizando los impactos en el aire e incluso consideran que la misma no se encuentra solucionada. Si bien el factor “cercanía de las viviendas con respecto a las pulverizaciones” se remarca como un importante riesgo, se considera que existen otras vías de ingreso de plaguicidas, para lo cual son necesarias otras soluciones. Las determinaciones del herbicida glifosato (GLP) y su metabolito aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) en la depositación atmosférica (15 sitios-tres periodos de muestreo) mostraron su presencia en este compartimento en zonas urbanas y rurales, con un 60% de sitios con detección. El segundo periodo present mayor carga de GLP+AMPA respecto al primer periodo (11,82 μg/m²/15 días). Al no encontrarse diferencias atribuibles a la cercanía con zonas agrícolas, se abre la discusión respecto de otros factores que se encuentran determinando su emisión y dinámica ambiental y frente a lo cual adquieren relevancia los puntos de vistas expuestos por la población. La integración y análisis de estos aspectos se considera necesario al abordar problemáticas socioambientales, generando conocimientos que luego puedan aportar a la planificación y desarrollo local.EEA ParanáFil: Seehaus, Mariela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Sasal, María Carolina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Feito, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Van Opstal, Natalia Veronica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Gabioud, Emmanuel Adrian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Beghetto, Stella. Ministerio de Economía de la Nación. Programa Cambio Rural; ArgentinaFil: Wingeyer, Ana Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, Marcelo German. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina.Fil: Marino, D. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente; Argentin

Protective Activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae Spr1875 Protein Fragments Identified Using a Phage Displayed Genomic Library

There is considerable interest in pneumococcal protein antigens capable of inducing serotype-independent immunoprotection and of improving, thereby, existing vaccines. We report here on the immunogenic properties of a novel surface antigen encoded by ORF spr1875 in the R6 strain genome. An antigenic fragment encoded by spr1875, designated R4, was identified using a Streptococcus pneumoniae phage displayed genomic library after selection with a human convalescent serum. Immunofluorescence analysis with anti-R4 antisera showed that Spr1875 was expressed on the surface of strains belonging to different serotypes. Moreover, the gene was present with little sequence variability in 27 different pneumococcal strains isolated worldwide. A mutant lacking Spr1875 was considerably less virulent than the wild type D39 strain in an intravenous mouse model of infection. Moreover, immunization with the R4 recombinant fragment, but not with the whole Spr1875 protein, induced significant protection against sepsis in mice. Lack of protection after immunization with the whole protein was related to the presence of immunodominant, non-protective epitopes located outside of the R4 fragment. In conclusion, our data indicate that Spr1875 has a role in pneumococcal virulence and is immunogenic. As the R4 fragment conferred immunoprotection from experimental sepsis, selected antigenic fragments of Spr1875 may be useful for the development of a pneumococcal protein-based vaccine

Evaluating immunological and inflammatory changes of treatment-experienced people living with HIV switching from first-line triple cART regimens to DTG/3TC vs. B/F/TAF: the DEBATE trial

Background: The aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to compare immunological changes in virally suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching from a three-drug regimen (3DR) to a two-drug regimen (2DR).Methods: An open-label, prospective RCT enrolling PLWH receiving a 3DR who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) or dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) was performed. Blood was taken at baseline and months 6 and 12. The primary outcome was the change in CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratio over time points. The secondary outcomes were the changes in immunological and inflammatory parameters. Parametric mixed-linear models with random intercepts and slopes were fitted separately for each marker after controlling for potential confounders.Results: Between the two arms (33 PLWH each), there was no difference in CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, and IL-6 trajectories. PLWH switching to DTG/3TC had increased levels of both transitional memory and terminally differentiated CD4+ T cells (arm-time interaction p-value = 0.02) and to a lesser extent for the corresponding CD8+ T-cell subsets (p = 0.09). Significantly lower levels of non-classical monocytes were detected in the B/F/TAF arm at T6 (diff = -6.7 cells/mm(3); 95% CI; -16, +2.6; p-value for interaction between arm and time = 0.03). All differences were attenuated at T12.Conclusion: No evidence for a difference in absolute CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts, CD4/CD8 ratio, and IL-6 trajectories by study arm over 12 months was found. PLWH on DTG/3TC showed higher levels of terminally differentiated and exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and non-classical monocytes at T6. Further studies are warranted to better understand the clinical impact of our results